Texas police search for man suspected of hiding marijuana in Easter eggs in city parks

Police in the US are searching for a man who allegedly hid marijuana inside plastic Easter eggs and hid them in several parks and a city motel.

Police in Lufkin, a city in Texas, released a statement online saying they were searching for a man called Avante Nicholson — who is wanted in connection with “plastic eggs, containing marijuana, placed in three city parks and a local motel”.

Officers said they were tipped off by a member of the public after Mr Nicholson allegedly posted photographs of the eggs’ locations to Facebook.

“The suspect posted four photos on Facebook showing each location as hints to locate the eggs. He also posted a photo of five plastic eggs in the seat of a vehicle,” the statement said.

“Officers found four eggs and believed he had not placed the fifth. However, the fifth egg was found by a man and his granddaughter at Winston Park the following day and brought to the police station. The deliveries totalled more than a quarter of an ounce of marijuana.”

Investigating officers were able to identify Mr Nicholson due to the posts he had shared on Facebook.

They also allegedly found statements on his Facebook page referencing selling drugs and telling his Facebook followers that whoever “shopped” with him on the day of the scavenger hunt would get clues as to the locations of the eggs.

“Incidents like this are a reminder of why take seriously all information called in to our offices,” Lufkin Police Chief David Thomas said.

“On the surface, it seems implausible that someone would give away a drug, but the follow up proves that sometimes even the most unlikely things do happen.

“The safety of our community is at the forefront of everything we do. And in cases such as this, when it endangers children, we are even more vigilant.”